
Electric Sheep is a collaborative abstract artwork founded by Scott Draves. It is run by thousands of people worldwide and can be installed on almost any device. When these computers sleep, the Electric Sheep comes on, and the devices communicate with each other over the internet to create morphing abstract animations known as sheep. Users can vote for their favorite animations, and the more popular sheep live longer and reproduce according to a genetic algorithm. To add Electric Sheep to xscreensaver, you need to edit the xscreensaver configuration file.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Operating System | Ubuntu 12.04, Ubuntu 14.04 LTS, Linux Mint 17.2 Mate, Arch Linux |
| Requirements | High-bandwidth, always-on internet connection (DSL or cable-modem) |
| Installation | Add GL: electricsheep --root 1 to config file in /usr/share/xscreensaver/config or /~/.xscreensaver |
| Dependencies | libsvga1 (32-bit, 64-bit), esound-common (32-bit, 64-bit), libaudiofile1 (32-bit, 64-bit), libesd0 (32-bit, 64-bit), mplayer (32-bit, 64-bit), flam3 (32-bit, 64-bit) |
| Additional Steps | Create /usr/share/applications/screensavers/electricsheep.desktop file, chmod 755 /usr/lib/xscreensaver/esheep.sh, download sheep packs |
| Notes | May not work with Gnome 3.8+, potential for package conflicts |
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What You'll Learn
- Install Electric Sheep on Ubuntu 14.04
- Add the following line to your config: GL: electricsheep --root 1
- Install dependencies: libsvga1, esound-common, libaudiofile1, etc
- Create the file: /usr/share/applications/screensavers/electricsheep.desktop
- Download and extract sheep packs before attempting to run Electric Sheep

Install Electric Sheep on Ubuntu 14.04
Installing Electric Sheep on Ubuntu 14.04 can be a tricky process due to the lack of support for this specific version of Ubuntu. Electric Sheep requires certain legacy packages that are not available in Ubuntu 14.04, which makes the installation process more complex.
Firstly, you will need to satisfy the dependencies required to run Electric Sheep. Install the following packages in the order listed: libsvga1 (32-bit, 64-bit), esound-common (32-bit, 64-bit), libaudiofile1 (32-bit, 64-bit), libesd0 (32-bit, 64-bit), mplayer (32-bit, 64-bit), and flam3 (32-bit, 64-bit). You may need to install additional packages as per the Ubuntu Software requirements. It is important to note that some users have expressed concerns about potential package conflicts when installing these dependencies, so proceed with caution.
Once the dependencies are installed, you can follow the Electric Sheep Linux Client Instructions to use the ichthyo/zeug PPA, which is compatible with Ubuntu 14.04.
Alternatively, you can try compiling Electric Sheep from the source code. However, some users have reported issues with this method, and it may require custom settings and flags to work.
If you are already using XScreenSaver, you can add `GL: electricsheep --root 1` to your config file, which is typically located in `/usr/share/xscreensaver/config`.
Additionally, you will need to create the file `/usr/share/applications/screensavers/electricsheep.desktop` with the following content:
[Desktop Entry]
Encoding=UTF-8
Name=ElectricSheep
Comment=Electric Sheep is a distributed screen-saver that harnesses idle computers into a render farm with the purpose of animating and evolving artificial life-forms. This module requires a high-bandwidth, always-on internet connection. The first time you run it, it may take 5 to 10 minutes for the first sheep to download and display.
Please note that Electric Sheep requires a constant high-bandwidth internet connection, such as DSL or cable, to function properly.
While the process of installing Electric Sheep on Ubuntu 14.04 is challenging, with persistence and careful attention to package dependencies, you may be able to get it working on your system.
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Add the following line to your config: GL: electricsheep --root 1
To add Electric Sheep to XScreenSaver, you need to edit the XScreenSaver configuration file. This file can be found at ~/.xscreensaver. Open this file and scroll to the bottom of the screensavers list. Here, you will find a list of lines that look something like this:
GL: photopile -root
GL: skytentacles -root
GL: rubikblocks -root
Add the following line to the bottom of this list:
GL: electricsheep --root 1
Once you have added this line, save the file. Now, open the XScreenSaver preferences. Electric Sheep should now be available in the screensavers list.
Note that you may need to install Electric Sheep and its dependencies before it will work with XScreenSaver.
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Install dependencies: libsvga1, esound-common, libaudiofile1, etc
To install the necessary dependencies for Electric Sheep on Xscreensaver, you will need to install libsvga1, esound-common, and libaudiofile1. Here is a detailed guide on how to install each of these packages:
Install libsvga1
To install libsvga1, you can use the following commands:
Cd ~/Downloads
Wget -c http://archive.ubuntu.com/ubuntu/pool/main/e/eglibc/multiarch-support_2.19-0ubuntu6.15_amd64.deb
Wget -c http://archive.ubuntu.com/ubuntu/pool/universe/s/svgalib/libsvga1_1.4.3-33_amd64.deb
Wget -c http://archive.ubuntu.com/ubuntu/pool/universe/s/svgalib/svgalib-bin_1.4.3-33_amd64.deb
Sudo apt-get install ./multiarch-support_2.19-0ubuntu6.15_amd64.deb ./libsvga1_1.4.3-33_amd64.deb ./svgalib-bin_1.4.3-33_amd64.deb
Install esound-common
To install the esound-common package, you can use a package manager such as APT. Here are the quick installation instructions:
- Run the update command to get the latest package information.
- Run the install command with the -y flag to install the packages and their dependencies.
- Check the system logs to confirm that there are no related errors.
Install libaudiofile1
To install libaudiofile1, you can use different package management tools such as apt, apt-get, or aptitude. Here are the steps for each method:
Using apt-get:
Update the apt database using the following command:
Apt-get update
Install libaudiofile1 using apt-get:
Apt-get install libaudiofile1
Using apt:
Update the apt database using the following command:
Apt update
Install libaudiofile1 using apt:
Apt install libaudiofile1
Using aptitude:
- Install aptitude if it is not already installed.
- Update the apt database using aptitude:
Aptitude update
Install libaudiofile1 using aptitude:
Aptitude install libaudiofile1
By following these steps, you can install the necessary dependencies for Electric Sheep on Xscreensaver.
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Create the file: /usr/share/applications/screensavers/electricsheep.desktop
To create the file /usr/share/applications/screensavers/electricsheep.desktop, follow these steps:
- Open your terminal.
- Navigate to the directory: sudo caja /usr/share/applications/screensavers/.
- Check if an "Electric Sheep" file already exists in this directory. If it does, delete it.
- Right-click in an empty space within the directory and select "Create Document" or "Empty File". Leave the file name as "New File".
- Double-click on "New File" to open it.
- Paste the following code inside the file:
> [Desktop Entry]
> Encoding=UTF-8
> Name=ElectricSheep
> Comment=Electric Sheep is a distributed screen-saver that harnesses idle computers into a render farm with the purpose of animating and evolving artificial life-forms.
> TryExec=electricsheep
> Exec=electricsheep -root
> StartupNotify=false
> Terminal=false
> Type=Application
> Categories=Screensaver; OnlyShowIn=GNOME;
Save and close the file.
Now you have created the /usr/share/applications/screensavers/electricsheep.desktop file. You may need to restart your computer for the changes to take effect.
Note: Before creating the file, ensure you have installed Electric Sheep and any necessary dependencies, and that you have downloaded and extracted at least one "sheep pack" to avoid delays in downloading sheep later.
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Download and extract sheep packs before attempting to run Electric Sheep
Electric Sheep is a collaborative abstract artwork founded by Scott Draves. It can be installed on almost any desktop or laptop computer, as well as on Android, iPad, and Apple TV. When these computers are idle, the Electric Sheep screensaver comes on, and the computers communicate with each other over the internet to create and share morphing abstract animations known as "sheep".
To ensure that the Electric Sheep screensaver runs smoothly, it is recommended to download and extract at least one sheep pack before attempting to run it. This way, if there are any issues, you can rule out the absence of sheep as the cause. The first time you run the screensaver, it usually takes 5 to 10 minutes for the first sheep to be downloaded and displayed.
You can download Electric Sheep packs from the official website, electricsheep.org. These packs contain hundreds of sheep that you can manually install into the Electric Sheep screensaver. The website also provides instructions on how to install the sheep packs.
Additionally, you can find Electric Sheep packs available for free download on the Internet Archive. These include two jumbo packs (megapack 98c and a self-extracting zip called "sheep") and two smaller packs (about 100m each, packs 2170 and 2171). By downloading and extracting sheep packs before running Electric Sheep, you can ensure a smoother experience and avoid potential issues related to server load or download times.
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Frequently asked questions
To add Electric Sheep to XScreenSaver on Arch Linux, you need to create the file /usr/share/applications/screensavers/electricsheep.desktop. Then, chmod 755 /usr/lib/xscreensaver/esheep.sh. Finally, add the line 'GL: electricsheep --root 1' to your XScreenSaver configuration file.
First, install the required packages: libsvga1 (32-bit, 64-bit), esound-common (32-bit, 64-bit), libaudiofile1 (32-bit, 64-bit), libesd0 (32-bit, 64-bit), mplayer (32-bit, 64-bit), and flam3 (32-bit, 64-bit). Then, add 'GL: electricsheep --root 1' to your XScreenSaver configuration file.
Edit the XScreenSaver configuration file (~/.xscreensaver) and add the line ''GL: electricsheep --root 1' to the bottom of the screensavers list. Save the file and open the XScreenSaver preferences. Electric Sheep should now be available in the screensavers list.
Visit the Electric Sheep website (http://electricsheep.org) and download the installer for your operating system. After installing, you will need to download and extract at least one sheep pack before you can use Electric Sheep.











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